Putting one foot in front of the other: How the Chicago Bears are positioning QB Justin Fields to succeed - Chicago Bears Blog- ESPN

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The second-year jump the Chicago Bears hope to see in quarterback Justin Fields began with changing two steps this offseason.

Left foot forward, right foot back in his shotgun stance.

It may not be a coincidence that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers also puts his left foot forward, considering Bears first-year offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach the past three seasons.

«It's just what they do in their offense,» Fields said. «It times it better with the routes and stuff like that, so that's why we do it.»

Footwork. Timing. Pocket presence. These are among the areas the Bears are trying to help Fields improve on as he heads into his second NFL season.

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Like many quarterbacks drafted high, Fields — the No. 11 overall pick in 2021 — will be expected to make a second-year jump. But as he adjusts to a new coaching staff’s system, an offensive line with four new starters and a receiving corps with one proven target, it may be more realistic to expect Fields to take a few steps forward, rather than a major leap.

His next test will be Thursday night in Seattle against the Seahawks (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). Starters are expected to play at least two series — anywhere from six to 10 plays.

“Last year, I think people said footwork, but there would be no real meaning behind that,” Fields’ personal quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery said. “But I think when this new coaching staff is talking about putting an emphasis on footwork, it’s because some of the drops they have are a little bit different, or